Northwestern Ontario and Manitoba-based advocates say more people should have a say on whether a nuclear repository is established near Ignace and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation.
A First Nation in northern Ontario is challenging the selection of an area township as the site of a deep geological repository that will hold Canada ’s nuclear waste, arguing in a court filing that it should have had a say in the matter as the site falls “squarely” within its territory. Uranium pellets are shown during a tour of a Nuclear Waste Management Organization facility in Oakville, Ont. on Tuesday, Dec.12, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn.
Although she is not surprised to see a project like this proposed again, Lindsey is dismayed by the lack of choice presented to nearby communities. “There is no question” he said. “The science, the economic benefits that were going to be derived from this project. It’s a $26-billion project. I don’t think there is any municipality in all of Canada that would just say, ‘No, we’re not interested’ there’s a lot that has contributed to this educational process.”
In the short term, Turtle says he is also concerned about potential transportation issues, as well as the ability and willingness of regulators to hold companies like the NWMO to a high standard.Although there have been information sessions in other communities, Turtle says many are still not as well informed as they could be. He says there has not been a session in Grassy Narrows, and there is significant opposition to it in communities like Dryden, Eagle Lake, Saugeen, and Lac Sot.
Eight recommendations were put forward by the assembly which they feel would help ensure transparency, accountability, and First Nations leadership in nuclear waste management.University of Manitoba environment and geography professor Warren Bernauer specializes in resource extraction projects in remote Indigenous communities. He believes the NWMO still has a lot of work to do to ensure that all communities impacted by the project are consenting.
He also doubts the Ignace municipal council’s ability to properly educate and inform the public due to the current hosting agreement between the NWMO and Ignace, which states the municipality cannot communicate to any person or public forum “indicating that the municipality does not support the project.”
“All we have required to date from host communities is that they be willing and informed. Now that we have that willingness, we are entering the federal government’s multi-year regulatory review and approval process led by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.”
“Now that we have selected a site, we’ll be moving to a regulatory process where we are confident in the safety.” she said.Although there has been some pushback, Swami says it’s important for everyone to have their voices and concerns heard. To complete this, Swami says the NWMO has done their best to educate those around the area and listen to their feedback.
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